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Late January is always when upsets and funky results start to surface in the NBA. It’s the dog days of the season, guys have tired legs, players are distracted by the trade deadline, and they see the All-Star break coming and start acting like high school students the week before spring break. How will that impact these NBA Power Rankings?
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
(37-10, last week No. 1)
A couple of home losses this week means that chasing the 73-win NBA record for a regular season is officially off the table — and that can be a good thing, the team that went all out to set that record then blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals. What those home losses mean is the air of invincibility once around this squad is gone. They have weaknesses, including (and oddly) rebounding opponents’ missed free throws. Assess just how good the Thunder are yourself this Sunday when they headline the opening night of Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock this weekend, when they travel to Denver — a more interesting game if Nikola Jokic plays, but that remains up in the air. Speaking of up in the air, here is Lu Dort.
2. Houston Rockets
(27-16, last week No. 4)
Houston moves up to No. 2 in these Power Rankings after quality wins last week, knocking off San Antonio and Detroit, reminding everyone they have to be considered one of the teams that is a genuine threat to Oklahoma City in the West. The Rockets’ one loss was to the 76ers in overtime, which is another reminder, this time that the Rockets have not been a great clutch team this season. They are 10-13 in clutch games (within five points in the final five minutes) with a -8.7 net rating (24th in the league) and a high turnover rate. It’s a concern. The Rockets lost Steven Adams for an extended period of time with a Grade 3 ankle sprain, something that will come back to bite them because his offensive rebounding is critical to their success (the Rockets’ 36.7 offensive rebound rate is by far the best in the league).
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3. Detroit Pistons
(33-11, last week No. 2)
J.B. Bickerstaff is headed to Los Angeles to coach in the All-Star Game, and it is well deserved — his steady…
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Publish date : 2026-01-26 20:49:00
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